24 The Bulletin. 



In addition to these measures a point will be gained by having 

 the land so well prepared, so fertile, and so well cultivated that the 

 plant makes a quick, vigorous growth, which enables it to quickly 

 recover from injury. 



For further consideration of these measures, the reader should 

 see what is said under the following headings . in this Buleetix : 

 Kotation (p. 4), Preparation of Soil (p. 5), Time of Planting 

 (p. (!), Planting Excess of Seed (p. 6), Fertilization (p. 7), and 

 Cultivation (p. 7). 



THE NEW COTTON BEETLE. (Luperodes brunneus.) 

 Order Coleoptera. Family Chrysomelidw. 



Description. — A dark brown or black beetle, less than one-fourth 

 inch in length, appearing in great numbers in late June and in July. 

 devouring the blossoms, squares and young bolls. The beetles run 

 about quite actively, and fly readily. 



Historical. — This is another of the cotton insects that is only 

 recently forcing its way to the front as a pest. As early as 1892 

 it was reported to the United States Department of Agriculture as 

 destroying cotton in Polk County, Georgia, but seems to have been 

 only local and did not again attract notice for years. In 1905 it 

 became quite destructive in six different counties in Georgia, and was 

 discussed in Bulletin 20 of the Georgia State Board of Entomology, 

 by Prof. R. I. Smith (at that time Entomologist of Georgia, now 

 Entomologist of the Experiment Station of. North Carolina). Mr. 

 Smith proposed the name of "The New Cotton Beetle" for this 

 pest, and we have, therefore, called it by that name. In North Caro- 

 lina it was reported as injuring cotton in the three consecutive years 

 of 1903, 1904 and 1905." 



Injury in North Carolina. — In 1903 specimens were sent from the 

 place of Mr. T. J. Watkins, Poplar Hill, Anson County, with the 

 report that they were doing considerable damage to blooms and 

 squares. In response to our inquiry we received the following: 



Poplar Hill, N. C, August 11, 1903. 

 I am in hopes that the beetles sent will not prove to be a serious pest. I 

 enclose some of the blooms to show that they work inside the bloom as well 

 as outside. He .cuts the squares from around the bloom, and cuts the pollen 

 from around the stem on the inside. You are mistaken if you think it attacks 

 the dead blooms and leaves— it is the fresh blooms and the tenderest leaves 

 that he works on. I can now see plainly how he is getting in his work. All 

 stalks attacked are ruined except bolls that are nearly grown. It is some- 

 thing that has never preyed on the cotton plant in this section before. 



Yours truly, 



T. J. Watkins. 



In a letter written the next year (dated July 1st, 1^04) Mr. Wat- 

 kins wrote: "The same insect is on the cotton this year." 



